Thanks for reading!

Boxing champ Fury shows up at Euro 2016 and buys fans drinks

(Photo: Kerry Marshall)

RH

By ROB HARRIS,
28/06/2016

Please sign in to read more articles

Sign In To My Account

NICE, France (AP) — After postponing his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, English boxer Tyson Fury headed straight to the European Championship where he stunned England soccer fans Sunday by buying a 1,000-euro ($1,110) round of drinks.

Wearing an England jersey, the world heavyweight champion arrived unannounced in Nice's historic old town the evening before England plays Iceland in the round of 16 at the European Championship on Monday.

The boxer announced Friday that he had been forced to postpone a title rematch against Klitschko that had been scheduled for July 9, citing an ankle injury.

The Englishman put injury anxieties aside as he was mobbed by fans and led them, pied piper-like, into a nearby bar.

Jaegerbombs, they responded, chanting in tandem, referencing the drink that mixes Jaegermeister shots with energy drinks.

The drinks served, a sweaty Fury, after removing his England jersey, passed around the drinks.

Fury later tweeted a copy of the 1,000-euro bar bill and wrote: "This is how much I love my fans, euro 2016."

"It's a big, lovely surprise," Andrew Dunn, an England fan from the eastern city of Lincoln, said as the drinks were being served. "He's an absolutely amazing champion and for him to hang out with the ordinary people like this and be friendly and get us a drink is wonderful.

"I love him to bits and he hopes he retains the championship the next time he fights."

After bar staff scrambled to find more bottles of Jaegermeister, Fury left the bar after 25 minutes.

"Fury is on fire. Klitschko is terrified," fans sang, adapting a song about Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg that has become an unofficial Euro 2016 anthem.